- Jan 26, 2008
- 2,840
- Boat Info
- SOLD 2005 420 DA w/T-8.1S Horizons
- Engines
- 2018 Sea Hunt 255se w/Yamaha 300hp
I'm now considering our next boat for Florida but it's not as easy as you'd think. One thing is budget, I find a lot of crazy nice boats I'd love to have but they're just too expensive.
Our objective is to find a boat that has these characteristics:
2 boats come to mind but are hard to find and often very pricey. That's a 2017+ Formula 350 SS or CBR. Neither of these are affordable to me if they have outboards. I'd only consider them if they had 8.2 freshwater cooled motors and saltwater drives. Wife loves the CBR with it's bow seating but the accommodations are tighter than the SS, which is closed bow. I haven't ever been on either of these boats but did climb all over their 330CBR at the boat show and was very impressed with fit and finish however accommodations were very tight.
I did look at the Sea Ray 320 but was a bit underwhelmed and most are over budget. That said, not completely ruled out.
If the budget would allow it I'd pull the trigger on this 350SS with outboards and hardtop. It really rings my bell.
Our objective is to find a boat that has these characteristics:
- Length between 32-35'
- Best cruise speed between 30 and 35 with >1.0 mpg prefer >1.3 mpg
- Needs to be rack storable. Closest facility has a 16K limit.
- Some type of habitable overnight capabilities for 2. Nothing luxurious but has to have a comfortable head, AC and genset
- Outboard power preferred but will consider IO's and their increased maintenance cost
- 100% must have Joystick controls
- More cruising than fishing
- More 'sporty' than cruiser is a big plus.
- Seaworthy in the gulf in modest conditions. We'll stay mostly close to shore and have the ability to dive into a protected area if necessary but if it's blowing 10-15 mph I want the boat to take the 2-3 footers without hesitation
- Prefer lightly used. 2015-2020 range.
- Budget is $250-$300K
2 boats come to mind but are hard to find and often very pricey. That's a 2017+ Formula 350 SS or CBR. Neither of these are affordable to me if they have outboards. I'd only consider them if they had 8.2 freshwater cooled motors and saltwater drives. Wife loves the CBR with it's bow seating but the accommodations are tighter than the SS, which is closed bow. I haven't ever been on either of these boats but did climb all over their 330CBR at the boat show and was very impressed with fit and finish however accommodations were very tight.
I did look at the Sea Ray 320 but was a bit underwhelmed and most are over budget. That said, not completely ruled out.
If the budget would allow it I'd pull the trigger on this 350SS with outboards and hardtop. It really rings my bell.
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